Abstract

GRAO-CRUCES, Alberto et al. Adherence to Mediterranean diet in rural urban adolescents of southern Spain, life satisfaction, anthropometry, and physical and sedentary activities. Nutr. Hosp. [online]. 2013, vol.28, n.4, pp.1129-1135. ISSN 1699-5198.  https://dx.doi.org/10.3305/nh.2013.28.4.6486.

Background: The Mediterranean diet is one of the healthier diet models. Mediterranean food patterns are suffering a deterioration that can especially affect children and adolescents. Objective: Determine adherence to the Mediterranean diet in adolescents of southern Spain and its relationship with the residence area, sex, age, life satisfaction, anthropometry, and habits of physical activity and sedentary activities. Methodology: A total of 1973 adolescents (11-18 years) of southern Spain participated in this descriptive cross-sectional study. Cut-off value between rural and urban locations was 10000 inhabitants. Adherence to the Mediterranean diet was calculated from the KIDMED questionnaire. Life satisfaction, physical activity, and sedentary activities also were measured through valid and reliable questionnaires. Body mass index and % body fat were measured using the TANITA BC-420-S body analyzer. Results: 30.9% of the adolescents reported an optimal quality diet, percent higher in rural locations (P < 0.05). Adherence was lower in older adolescents (P < 0.001), it was not different between sexes or according to anthropometric variables. Adolescents more satisfied with their lives (P < 0.001), more active (P < 0.001), more studious (P < 0.001), and less sedentary in front of a screen (P < 0.001) showed greater adherence to the Mediterranean food pattern. Conclusion: The majority of adolescents need to improve their nutritional quality. Compared with these subjects, the adolescents most adherent to the Mediterranean diet had a healthier lifestyle and they showed greater life satisfaction.

Keywords : Mediterranean diet; Value of life; Body composition; Physical activity; Sedentary lifestyle.

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